On loan to Melbourne, West Tigers winger David Nofoaluma has been rushed into the side to face Gold Coast after Billy Slater helped fast track his learning.
Melbourne have enlisted the help of club great Billy Slater to get Wests Tigers recruit David Nofoaluma up to speed as the NRL club's injury crisis in the outside backs continues.
New arrival Nofoaluma has been rushed into the starting Storm side for their Friday night clash with Gold Coast at AAMI Park.
Fullback Nick Meaney (concussion) will miss the match and join outside backs Ryan Papenhuyzen, Reimis Smith and George Jennings, who all have season-ending injuries, on the sidelines.
The 28-year-old winger joined Melbourne on Monday after he was signed on loan until the end of the season from the 15th-placed Wests Tigers.
He had series-winning Queensland State of Origin coach Slater in his ear through his first training session to fast track his learning.
"He (Slater) gave some good advice and some pointers on what they do down here and that helped a lot," Nofoaluma said on Tuesday.
"I couldn't imagine me coming down and spending my first day with Billy Slater, that was pretty amazing."
Since making his NRL debut with the Tigers in 2013, Nofoaluma has played 175 games but has never appeared in a final.
With the Storm sitting fourth that prospect proved a big lure.
"That made it an easy decision to come here as Melbourne have been in the finals pretty much every year and I'm excited for that," he said.
Nofoaluma was also looking forward to renewing his on-field partnership with Melbourne hooker Harry Grant, who spent the 2020 season on loan to the Tigers.
While he recently extended his Tigers deal until the end of 2025, Nofoaluma said he felt the stint with the Storm could help him "freshen up".
He won Dally M winger of the year in 2020 and was the Tigers' highest tryscorer in 2021 but hasn't played an NRL match this season since round 12.
He spent time in May sidelined due to concussion before being dropped from the first-grade squad for drinking while recovering from injury.
"I've been playing for 10 years now at the one club and it was something that I wanted to do just to freshen up for myself and my career.
"I feel like I've made that right decision."
He said he intended honouring his Tigers contract.
"It's a loan deal and I have a contract back in Sydney and for the next two years and I'm going to honour that.
"I've had a lot of nice messages from West Tigers fans saying they're still supporting the club and if not they will support the Storm this year because I'm here but I'm still one of theirs."
